Illegal immigrants affect electoral college votes and congressional district reapportionment, the senator charged.
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) suggested on April 10 that the Biden administration is facilitating illegal immigration to help Democrats politically.
The senator’s remarks came amid his questioning of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on April 10.
Mr. Kennedy, noting the “bleeding” southern border, suggested that the secretary’s border policies had an ulterior political motive.
“Isn’t in fact, Mr. Secretary, that the number of illegal immigrants that you and the president allow into our country counts for congressional district reapportionment?” he asked.
“Senator, I’m not sure I understand your question, but I can surely share with you that I disagree with its phrasing,” Mr. Mayorkas replied.
The senator continued: “Isn’t it true, Mr. Secretary, that the number of illegal immigrants that you and President Biden have allowed into our country counts for allocating electoral votes?”
Mr. Mayorkas repeated that he didn’t understand the question. He then called the senator’s insinuation “nothing short of preposterous” and “disrespectful” to administration and Department of Homeland Security personnel.
Mr. Kennedy, however, charged that the secretary was well aware of the political ramifications of the border crisis, unintended or otherwise.
“And you’ve done nothing for four years—zero, absolutely zilch. And, in fact, the only people I know in this country who are better off today than they were four years ago are illegal immigrants. And that’s a result of your policy.”
Mr. Mayorkas became only the second presidential cabinet member ever to be impeached in U.S. history on Feb. 13. The charges against him included “willfully and systematically” refusing to enforce existing immigration laws and breach of public trust. The 214–213 vote split along party lines, with all but three Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats voting against.
Initially, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) planned to send the impeachment articles to the Senate on the day of the hearing. But on April 9, he announced that he would delay the move until next week as Republicans fight for a full trial.
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Video Transcript
Chairman Murphy: Good afternoon everyone. Welcome to today’s hearing concerning fiscal year 2025 and the budget request from the Department of Homeland Security. Calling this hearing to order. And we welcome Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to testify about the FY 25 request. Senator Kennedy.
Kennedy: Mr. Secretary. I am. I don’t hate anybody. I look for grace wherever I can find it. And I certainly don’t hate you. My Chairman talked about the the wooly mammoths in the room, and I’m glad he he brought that up.
The chairman’s immigration bill was negotiated by two members of my party. Senator Lankford and Senator McConnell. And I don’t I don’t speak for either one. They’re both good men. The chairman said that the Republicans. Who negotiated his bill trusting you and wanted you there. And I’m not doubting his word.
It gives me no joy to say this. But most Republicans don’t trust you. And a vast majority of the American people don’t trust you.
That’s why you’ve been impeached.
Now, my Democratic colleagues are going to try to sweep your impeachment under the rug. And violate 200 years of Senate precedent. And doing it.
I don’t think that they will be able to sweep the issue. Maybe your impeachment, but not the issue under a rug as big as the United States of America. Again, it gives me no joy in saying this. I think, well, more than a majority of the American people think that, as a result of your behavior and President Biden’s behavior, our southern border is an open bleeding wound.
I think they believe that, our southern border is chaotic. I think the vast majority of the American people believe that a lot of it is political. I think a vast majority of the American people believe that it is chaotic by design and that, and that that all of this is an intentional. And I think while a vast majority of the American people who don’t trust you, believe in legal immigration, they don’t believe in illegal immigration, and they think you do, and they think President Biden does, and they think that’s why the border is open.
And they think that your attitude and President Biden’s attitude is that, what, while they may be poor, work under President Biden, that they’re stupid enough to believe you and the president when you say that it’s not your problem? I think that needed to be said. Isn’t it a fact, Mr. Secretary, that, the number of illegal immigrants that you and the president allow into our country, counts for congressional district reapportionment?
Mayorkas: Senator, I’m not sure I understand your question, but I can surely share with you that I disagree with its phrasing.
Kennedy: Isn’t it true, Mr. Secretary, that the number of illegal immigrants that you and President Biden have allowed into our country, counts for allocating electoral votes?
Mayorkas: I. Same answer.
Kennedy: You don’t know?
Mayorkas: I don’t understand your question.
Kennedy: Never crossed your mind.
Mayorkas: The notion, Senator, that, we intend to allow, illegal immigration is nothing short of preposterous.
Kennedy: So you do understand the question.
Mayorkas: And if I may, it is disrespectful to the extraordinarily hard work that we perform, and far more importantly, that the personnel in the Department of Homeland Security and across this administration perform to stem illegal immigration, build lawful, safe and orderly pathways, and invest in a working system. And we only wish we only wish that that bipartisan legislation about which I have not heard a critical term.
Kennedy: Mr. President. Mr. Secretary, you’re using up my time. You do this every single time. You do this, every single time. And it’s a fact and you know it and I know it, that the more people you allow into our country illegally, the more people are counted for reapportionment. And the more people that you allow into our country illegally, the more people are counted for allocating electoral votes.
And and maybe that’s a coincidence, but that’s the fact. And you know that. And you’ve done nothing for four years. Nada. Zero, absolutely zilch. And in fact, the only people I know in this country who are better off today than they were four years ago, or illegal immigrants, and that’s as a result of your policy. I don’t hate you for, I don’t hate anyone.
But that’s why you’ve been impeached. And my colleagues may try to cover it up. They’re gonna try to cover it up, but they can’t cover up the facts.
I’ve gone over my time. I’m sorry, Mr. Chairman.
